After a diving accident at age 15, quadriplegic Nelson Klein wasn't sure he could live independently.

Klein, 29, has lived at home in Atlantic since the accident. Last month, he moved into his own apartment at the new LIFE House in Greenville, a community for disabled people. He plans to start classes at East Carolina University in January.

Jason A. Frizzelle/The Daily Reflector (ENLARGE)

The Rev. Rebecca Dixon speaks during the grand opening ceremony of Life House of Greenville.

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Klein, who wants to teach high school social studies, said he enjoys "just being able to come and go."

"There's a lot of things to do in Greenville as opposed to where I'm from," he said. "I'm looking forward to going back to school and being independent."

LIFE House stands for Living Independently is for Everyone. The facility at 1567 Wimbledon Drive is owned and managed by Volunteers of America of the Carolinas, a national nonprofit organization that provides human service programs. LIFE House has 20 apartments — 12 one-bedroom units and eight two-bedroom units — that are leased to low-income residents with severe disabilities.

Rebecca Tyndall, unit manager with North Carolina Independent Living, a program affiliated with the N.C. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, coordinates housing and support services for disabled people. She said residents at LIFE House have disabilities such as neurological disorders, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, quadriplegia, arthritis, mental disorders and AIDS. She added that all residents can live independently with some support services that are provided based on need.

"What makes this facility so special is that it's fully accessible from the front door to the mail boxes to the interior hallways to the courtyards," Tyndall said.

LIFE House accommodations go beyond specifications and requirements of affordable housing for disabled people, she said. The facility includes automatic doors, roll-in showers and toilets accessible from three sides.

Residents are charged rent based on their income. Most pay between $90 and $150 a month. LIFE House has been open for two months; three two-bedroom apartments are still unoccupied.

Greenville's LIFE House was built in partnership with The Regional Rehabilitation Center at University Health Systems of East Carolina, the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, Greenville Housing Authority and Volunteers of America of the Carolinas.

Developer Scott Redinger built the first LIFE House in Asheville. He chose Greenville as the second location because of its proximity to Pitt County Memorial Hospital's Rehabilitation Center. Redinger plans two additional properties in Durham and Greensboro.

The Greenville LIFE House cost about $2.6 million and was built in 10 months. Redinger said LIFE Houses must be close to businesses and shopping centers residents can access easily.

"I've done 29 developments, and this is the first time on the first day (of visiting potential sites) that I saw a site that would be optimal," Redinger said.

Interested in living at LIFE House of Greenville? Contact Rebecca Tyndall, unit manager with North Carolina Independent Living, 830-3471.

Jennifer White can be contacted at jewhite@coxnc.com